Method and apparatus for dehydration and decarboxylation of cannabis

ABSTRACT

In a system for perorming a multi-step process for selectively purifying various pharmacologically-relevant components of a source plant such as  cannabis , an initial step of the process provides a low-temperature, robust process for dehydrating and decarboxylating the starting product—fresh raw  cannabis —by means of a vacuum-assisted microwave distillation process. An important by-product of the dehydration/decarboxylation is a terpene-rich distillate. By doing the terpene capture under vacuum, distillation temperature may be kept low. The low distillation temperature maximizes yields of thermally-sensitive components such as terpenes and cannabinoids.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/035,379, filed Sep. 28, 2020, which is a continuation-in-part of:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/480,806, filed Apr. 18, 2017

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/669,815, filed Aug. 4, 2017; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/244,714, filed Jan. 10, 2019; the entirety of which applications are incorporated herein by this reference thereto.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to apparatus and method for preparing botanical substances for distillation and/or extraction. More particularly the present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for dehydrating and decarboxylating cannabis.

Background Information

A plant medicine's therapeutic activity is attributed to the active constituents it contains. Although there are examples that show the activity of C. Sativa has been linked to specific chemical species, it is also true that the plant's medicinal affect is due to one or more combinations of constituents acting in concert.

Cannabis contains approximately 500 natural compounds. The two classes of compounds of greatest medicinal value are terpenes and cannabinoids. While cannabis may contain literally hundreds of terpenes, only a few have caught the interest of researchers and practitioners, among them: myrcene, linalool, limonene, humulene, pinene and caryophyllene. Until recently, it was thought that terpenes functioned mostly to give cannabis strains their characteristic flavors and aromas. Because of this, it was thought that, in preparing extracts, it wasn't necessary to be concerned about terpene content in a final product because the terpenes didn't appear to be important to the medicinal effect of the product.

Recent research has revealed that terpenes play a much greater role in the effect of a particular cannabis strain than originally thought. It has been found, for example, that in many situations, the interaction between a terpene molecule and a cannabinoid molecule is determinative of the final effect of the relevant strain, with the terpene, in effect, regulating the medicinal action of the cannabinoid. Thus, a new appreciation is developing for terpenes' contribution to the medicinal effect produced by a particular cannabis strain.

Over 100 cannabinoids have been identified in cannabis, some of which are psychoactive. Of the cannabinoids, the molecules most studied may be tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), the two cannabinoids accounting for the largest portion of the plant's extract. While THC may account for more than 20% of extract volume in a high-THC strain, CBD levels of over 4% are considered to be high. Recent research has shown CBD to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-anxiety properties without the psychoactive effects associated with THC.

Current methods of preparing abstracts fail to appreciate the importance of terpenes to the quality and efficacy of the final product. Further, the cannabinoid yield from conventional methods tends to be sub-optimal. Additionally, the time required for conventional methods places a limit on the amount of extract that can be produced in an economic manner.

SUMMARY

In a multi-step process for selectively purifying various pharmacologically-relevant components of a source plant such as cannabis, an initial step of the process provides a low-temperature, robust process for dehydrating and decarboxylating the starting product—fresh raw cannabis—by means of a vacuum-assisted microwave distillation process. An important by-product of the dehydration/decarboxylation is a terpene-rich distillate. By doing the terpene capture under vacuum, distillation temperature may be kept low. The low distillation temperature maximizes yields of thermally-sensitive components such as terpenes and cannabinoids.

The process may include additional steps of:

-   -   extracting cannabinoids from the dehydrated cannabis to produce         a crude extract via a solvent extraction process;     -   purifying the crude extract of fats, lipids, plant material via         a winterization process; and     -   distilling relevant cannabinoids from the purified crude extract         via a wiped-film process.

Selected terpenes and cannabinoids may then be recombined in predetermined proportions to achieve extracts of unusual purity and having targeted therapeutic profiles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a block diagram of a process for preparing a purified extract from raw, fresh cannabis;

FIG. 2 provides a block diagram of a sub-process for extracting natural essential oils from raw fresh cannabis;

FIG. 3 provides a diagram of a system for extracting natural essential oils from raw fresh cannabis;

FIG. 4 provides a diagram of an oil/water separator from the system of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 provides a block diagram of a sub-process for extracting relevant cannabinoids from dehydrated cannabis;

FIG. 6 provides a diagram of a system for extracting relevant cannabinoids from dehydrated cannabis;

FIG. 7 provides a block diagram of a sub-process for refining a cannabis extract; and

FIG. 8 provides a block diagram of a sub-process for preparing a distillate from refined cannabis extract;

FIGS. 9A and 9B provide diagrams of a system for extracting natural essential oils from cannabis;

FIG. 10 provides a diagram of a jacketed oil/water separator

FIG. 11 provides a drawing of a wide-mouth distillation vessel;

FIG. 12 provides an illustration of a step-down coupler that steps the wide mouth of the distillation vessel of FIG. 11 down to the smaller diameter of a steam duct that serves as a conduit directing steam from the distillation vessel to a condenser;

FIG. 13 provides an illustration of a steam duct integrated with a rotary motor;

FIG. 14 provides an illustration of the steam duct of FIG. 13 mated with the couple of FIG. 12 ; and

FIG. 15 provides a detailed view of a strainer integral to the couple of FIG. 12 to prevent botanical material from contaminating the distillate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a multi-step process for selectively purifying various pharmacologically-relevant components of a source plant such as cannabis, an initial step of the process provides a low-temperature, robust process for dehydrating and decarboxylating the starting product—fresh raw cannabis—by means of a vacuum-assisted microwave distillation process. An important by-product of the dehydration/decarboxylation is a terpene-rich distillate. By doing the terpene capture under vacuum, distillation temperature may be kept low. The low distillation temperature maximizes yields of thermally-sensitive components such as terpenes and cannabinoids.

The process may include additional steps of:

-   -   extracting cannabinoids from the dehydrated cannabis to produce         a crude extract via a solvent extraction process;     -   purifying the crude extract of fats, lipids, plant material via         a winterization process; and     -   distilling relevant cannabinoids from the purified crude extract         via a wiped-film process.

Selected terpenes and cannabinoids may then be recombined in predetermined proportions to achieve extracts of unusual purity and having targeted therapeutic profiles.

Terpene Distillation: Rapid Material Dehydration and Cannabinoid Decarboxylation in a Single Process

For the initial distillation, a vacuum assisted microwave hydro-distillation (VAMHD) process is employed to rapidly dehydrate fresh plant material at significantly lower temperatures than normally possible with conventional processes, distilling the terpenes and decarboxylating the cannabinoids contained in the plant material.

Conventionally, great emphasis is placed on drying cannabis slowly and gradually to preserve the terpene and cannabinoid content. Cut stems of cannabis are typically hung or the buds are trimmed and laid out on drying racks in climate-controlled environments. This drying/curing process can take up to four weeks. As part of an industrial-scale process, the time and space requirements for such gradual drying and curing add significantly to the manufacturing cost of the final product.

There exist high-speed methods of drying. Oven drying and convection drying have been used to shorten the time required to dry cannabis. Significant economies of time have been achieved with such speed-drying methods. But the high temperatures required adversely affect the terpene and cannabinoid content, resulting in an inferior quality final product.

Microwave drying has also been used. But it is thought that microwave drying seriously compromises the concentration of psychoactive components in the cannabis, resulting in an inferior-quality final product.

After cannabis has been dried, it must be decarboxylated to activate the psychoactive components. The main cannabis-derived cannabinoids come from related cannabinoid acids, which are 2-carboxylic acids, composed of a carboxyl group linked at the alpha carbon of the main cannabinoid group. While cannabinoid acids do have some therapeutic uses, in order to produce the psychoactive effect for which cannabis is so highly valued, the raw cannabinoid acids must be decarboxylated, usually through heating, to remove the carboxyl (—COON) functional group at the alpha carbon to form cannabinols or cannabidiols. Conventionally, cannabis is decarboxylated by heating the raw cannabis to approximately 200° F. (−93° C.) for approximately one hour. While the prolonged exposure to high temperature converts the cannabinoids to a biologically-active form, it also has the unfortunate effect of significantly decreasing cannabinoid concentration because of the vulnerability of the cannabinoid molecule to thermal degradation. Furthermore, this step allows the achievement of greater purity in each of the downstream processes described herein below.

Lower temperatures may be used for decarboxylation, but the process proceeds much more slowly. In fact, cannabis can be decarboxylated merely by allowing it to cure at room temperature for an extended period of time—several weeks, for example. Thus, an industrial-scale producer is faced with choosing between a time-intensive process and one that adversely affects the quality of the end product.

The process herein described utilizes vacuum-assisted microwave hydro distillation (VAMHD) to dry and decarboxylate the fresh plant material, which allows it to be rapidly dehydrated and decarboxylated at significantly lower temperatures of approximately 10-50° C., thus preserving the terpene and cannabinoid profile of the original material, while saving approximately 10 days over the industry drying standard.

FIG. 2 shows a sub-process of terpenes/essential oil capture 200. As shown in FIG. 2 , the starting material for the vacuum-assisted microwave hydro-distillation (VAMHD) is raw cannabis—that is, freshly-harvested plant material that has not had an opportunity to dry.

Hydro distillation is an alternative method of extracting essential oils to steam distillation. In hydro distillation, rather than having steam pass through the plant material from which the essential oil is to be extracted, the plant material is soaked in water for a period of time, after which the mixture of water and plant material is heated. The volatile essential oil is carried away in the steam, condensed and separated.

The fresh plants may be initially processed by being shredded and/or finely chopped 202. Shredding the plant allows it to be closely packed into the distillation vessel 304 and allows uniform exposure of the fresh plant material to the heat and the reduced air pressure created by the vacuum 312.

After shredding, the raw plant material may be frozen 204. In embodiments, the plant material may be flash-frozen by exposing it to liquid nitrogen. In embodiments, the plant material may be flash-frozen by exposing it to dry ice. The frozen cannabis may then be broken up into small pieces and transferred to a vessel suitable for heating in the microwave. In embodiments, a round-bottom flask, such as a 3-liter round-bottom flask, may be used.

Additionally, the fresh plant material may be placed in the distillation vessel 304 without being previously frozen.

If dried plant material is being used, an amount of water may then be added to the distillation vessel 304 containing the raw plant material to prepare the mixture.

One of ordinary skill will appreciate that the process is readily scaled and that the choice of vessel is a function of the process scale.

The vessel containing a cannabis/water mixture may then be placed into a microwave oven under vacuum 312. In embodiments, the vessel containing the frozen cannabis is then heated for a predetermined time period. The length of the time period is a function of the wattage of the microwave oven, the size of the vessel and the quantity of cannabis in the vessel. In embodiments, a 3-liter vessel packed with frozen cannabis may be heated on ‘high’ in a 1000 watt microwave oven for 60 minutes 206. In embodiments, the vessel may be inverted to achieve an optimally even microwave distribution, thus avoiding the common problem in microwave ovens of hot spots and cold spots. Additionally, a motor may be added to the system to rotate or spin the vessel packed with cannabis. In this way, the essential oil yield from the distillation may be optimized.

In embodiments, the vacuum may be in a range of less than 0.1 Pa to as much as 266 Pa.

Throughout the heating period, the vessel contents emit a vapor that includes an aqueous fraction and an oil fraction, containing the essential oil from the cannabis, in which a high concentration of terpenes 208 is contained.

As indicated above, the end products of the distillation sub-process are cannabis essential oil and dried, decarboxylated cannabis. The dried, decarboxylated cannabis may then undergo a secondary solvent extraction to recover the biologically active cannabinoids 210.

FIG. 3 provides a diagram of a vacuum-assisted microwave dehydration system 300 with which the sub-process of FIG. 2 may be carried out. As shown, the system 300 includes a microwave heating unit 302. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 shows a conventional microwave oven 302 as would be found in many households and laboratory settings. Depending on the process scale, the microwave oven 302 could be a larger, higher-power, industrial-scale unit.

A distillation vessel 306 is packed with cannabis 304 prepared as described herein above and placed in the microwave oven 302. A water-chilled condenser 308 is coupled with the neck of the distillation vessel 306. In embodiments, the coupling mechanism between the condenser 308 and the distillation vessel 306 is conventional, in which the neck of the distillation vessel 306 is a conical ground-glass female coupling which receives a conical ground-glass male coupling at an end of the condenser 308.

In a preferred embodiment, the coupling mechanism between the condenser and the distillation vessel is specially adapted to the unique purpose of the system. In the preferred embodiment, the distillation flask 306 is provided with an unconventionally-wide neck rather than a narrow neck as is conventional. Unlike a conventional round-bottom flask, which is used to heat liquids, the system 300 provides a vessel 306 for distillation of essential oils from botanical materials such as cannabis and dehydration and decarboxylation of the botanical materials. In order to facilitate loading of the botanical materials into the vessel 306, the vessel is provided with a neck having a larger lumen than a conventional round-bottom flask.

Because the opening 1100 (FIG. 11 ) in the distillation vessel is non-standard, a specially-designed coupling 1200 is provided that steps the wide opening of the vessel 306 down to the diameter of a steam duct 1300 that couples the distillation flask 306 with the condenser 308.

In embodiments, the ground-glass neck of the flask may be 45/50. In other words, the largest outer diameter of the inner joint is 45 mm and the length of the joint is Thus, the neck of the vessel 306 is nearly as wide as it is long. As above, the purpose of providing such a wide neck is to facilitate loading of the vessel with botanical material and removal of the dried, decarboxylated product.

The 45/50 neck size is a matter of design choice as long as the outer diameter of the neck is nearly as wide as the neck is long. For example, as long as the outer diameter of the neck is at least 80% of the length of the neck, it meets the functional requirements of the system.

The neck of the vessel 306 may be coupled with a condenser 308 by means of a steam duct 1300. The steam duct 1300 provides a narrower shaft than that required by the neck of the vessel 306. In embodiments, the steam duct may be 24/40: an external diameter of 24 mm and 40 mm in length. The 24/40 dimension is a matter of design choice and is largely determined by the availability of laboratory glassware. As FIG. 12 shows, a step-down coupler 1200 is provided that steps the inner diameter of the vessel joint 306 down to the external diameter of the steam duct 1300, which serves as a conduit into the condenser 308. Thus, the steam duct 1300 permits the creation of an air-tight seal between the distillation vessel 306 and the condenser 308. The coupler 1200 in addition to connecting the steam duct to the vessel 306 while maintaining vacuum conditions, also acts as a filter 1400 to prevent plant material from entering the condenser 308.

FIG. 12 shows the coupler 1200 mated with the neck of the vessel 306.

FIG. 13 shows the vessel-coupler assembly 306/1100 mated with the steam duct 1200.

FIG. 14 shows the coupler 1100 with an integral drain filter for trapping loose plant material that escapes from the vessel 306 while allowing vapor and distillate to freely enter the condenser 308.

It should be noted that the distillation vessel 306 and the condenser 308 are shown in an inverted position. In embodiments, the sub-process 200 is gravity-assisted by the gravity drain of the distillation vessel. As the cannabis 304 heats, the essential oil and the water form a mixed vapor. It will be appreciated that performing the process 200 under vacuum conditions considerably reduces the temperature at which the essential oil and water within the distillation vessel are converted to their vapor phases. The mixed vapor, due to the vacuum conditions, is promptly evacuated from the vessel 306, being drawn from the vessel 306 into the condenser 308 through the gravity drain in the distillation vessel 306. By exploiting the effect of gravity, evaporated water and essential oil are drained from cannabis 304 in the vessel 306 much more rapidly than would be possible without the gravity assist. Furthermore, the continual gravity drainage greatly assists drying of the cannabis to prepare for the following sub-process. The vacuum conditions, supplemented by the gravity drain, also allow recovery of a greater quantity of essential oil, having a richer concentration of terpenes.

By using a gravity drain to continuously evacuate essential oil/water from the distillation vessel, it is possible to dry and carboxylate the cannabis. In fact, at the end of the distillation, the cannabis 306 remaining in the vessel 306 is nearly completely dried, needing only a short exposure to the air at room temperature to finish drying. Laboratory testing of the extract reveals that the cannabinoid fraction of the extract is 97% decarboxylated cannabinoids.

Vacuum conditions are maintained within the system 300 by means of a vacuum generator 312 and air-tight joins between all system components.

An oil/water separator 310 facilitates separation of the essential oil 316 and the aqueous component 318 into separate fractions. The essential oil then accumulates in the oil/water separator 310, while the aqueous component 318 is drained into a separate vessel 314. Conventionally, an oil/water separator includes a vent that allows steam to escape to the ambient environment, which incidentally exposes the distillate to the ambient air. Because the presently-described system 300 is an air-tight system that allows for the end-to-end maintenance of at least a partial vacuum within the system, a conventional oil/water separator would not be suitable.

As shown in FIGS. 9A-9B, an embodiment of the system 300 may include a rotating motor 330 for continuously rotating or spinning the distillation vessel 306 as the cannabis is being dehydrated. Maintaining the distillation vessel 306 in a constant state of rotation serves to distribute microwave energy evenly throughout the interior of the vessel. It also allows an operator to optimize conditions at different microwave power levels, allowing the operator to speed up or slow down the rotation as needed in order to produce the desired effect. Additionally, being able to spin or rotate the distillation vessel allows the distillation vessel to operate as a centrifuge, helping to push liquid from the center of the mass inside the vessel to the periphery to aid the dehydration process.

In embodiments, the rotating motor 330 may resemble a rotating evaporator. In embodiments, the rotating motor 330 may include one or more of the following components:

-   -   A motor unit 330 that rotates the distillation vessel containing         the botanical material such as cannabis;     -   A steam duct which establishes the axis about which the         distillation vessel is rotated, and which provides a         vacuum-tight conduit for the vapor being drawn off of the         material within the distillation vessel 306; and     -   A vacuum system 312, for reducing atmospheric pressure within         the system.

In embodiments, the condenser 308 may be a Liebig condenser, having an empty lumen encircled with a water jacket.

In embodiments, the condenser 308 may be a single-oil condenser, having a coil encircled by a water jacket.

In embodiments, the condenser 308 may be a double-coil condenser comprising a first coil, a second coil encircling the first coil with both coils encircled by a water jacket. The provision of a double coil increases the efficiency of the condenser by providing a greater surface area upon which condensation may occur, allowing a more compact design for the system 300 while preserving functional capacity.

FIG. 4 provides a detailed diagram of an embodiment of an oil/water separator 310 that is capable of maintaining at least a partial vacuum within the system 300.

The condenser 308 and the oil/water separator 310 are coupled at a joint 328. Essential oil 316 and water 318 enter the oil/water separator 310 from the condenser 308, assisted by gravity. Additionally, the vacuum created by removing air 326 from the system by the vacuum system 312 further facilitates flow of the hydrosol 316/318 (the essential oil/water mixture) into the oil/water separator 310. In embodiments, the vacuum source is coupled to the condenser by means of a connector such as a barb fitting 312.

As the hydrosol is deposited within the oil/water separator 310, it separates into an aqueous layer 318 and an oil layer 316. As the aqueous phase accumulates, it flows into the vent 322 and exits the system via an excess water outlet 324. Those of ordinary skill will recognize that the excess water outlet 324 is, in actuality, a simple water pump. Thus, a continuous flow of excess water from the system through the excess water outlet 324 may be maintained by maintaining a prime within the system, in which an initial amount of water is added to the oil/water separator sufficient to fill the vent 322 past the excess water outlet 324 and maintaining this level, so that the water line remains full during a distillation session.

In embodiments, the oil/water separator 310 is fabricated without an air vent.

In embodiments a conventional oil/water separator may be provided with a cap 326 that prevents leakage of ambient air into the system 300.

The particular oil/water separator as shown in FIG. 4 , which prevents any ambient air from entering the system, allows the essential oil to be collected and the hydrosol to be drained off without exposing the distillate to the ambient environment. By maintaining an environment that is completely segregated from the ambient environment, exposure of the distillate to the ambient air is avoided. Avoiding exposure of the distillate to the ambient environment constitutes an additional measure that prevents oxidative degradation of the cannabinoid fraction of the distillate, ultimately resulting in a superior quality extract than is conventionally possible.

In embodiments, an oil/water separator 310 may be provided with a cooling jacket. Referring to FIG. 10 , a jacketed oil/water separator 400 may include an integral cooling jacket 410 that surrounds an oil/water separator 310, in which the oil/water separator may be substantially identical to the oil/water separator 310 shown in FIG. 4 . In embodiments, the cooling jacket 410 is a glass shell that is both integrated with and surrounds the glass exterior wall of the oil/water separator 310. In this way, a compartment 450 is created between the cooling jacket 410 and the wall of the oil/water separator 310 that can contain a coolant such as water. In embodiments, the cooling function of the cooling jacket is enhanced by the provision of inlet/outlets 420, 430, to which a coolant delivery line (not shown) and a drainage line (not shown) can be connected. In embodiments, the inlet/outlets may be barb fittings to which the lines maybe tightly connected. Thus, the cooling jacket 410 is capable of providing a supply of coolant that is continually refreshed. In embodiments, the coolant may be re-cooled and recirculated. In embodiments, fresh coolant is continually fed into the system. As such, the operating temperature can be maintained at a level that is low enough to further help to minimize oxidative degradation of the desirable fractions within the distillate, such as the cannabinoids.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the system may further include a honeycomb glass adapter 440 that couples a condensing column to the oil water separator, either the unjacketed oil/water separator 310 shown in FIG. 4 or the jacketed oil/water separator shown in FIG. 10 .

In an embodiment, the system of FIGS. 3 and 4 may be scaled in the manner shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, an outlet allows for capture of the hydrosol via gravity to a lower collection receptacle 314 while still maintaining vacuum conditions.

Because the lower collection receptacle 314 can be placed on the floor or ground, there is no limitation to its size and therefore no limit to the volume of hydrosol emitted from the system.

In stark contrast, in conventional distillation systems, such as that described in U.S. pub. no. 2010/006121, volume of the system is limited to the volume of the separatory funnel, drastically limiting the ability to optimize the extraction conditions of the system. In this design, it is impossible to distill a larger volume in the system than the separatory funnel can hold without breaking the vacuum conditions of the system, which can lead to oxidation of valuable fractions within the distillate.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, because multiple systems 300 may be fed to the same collection vessel 314, it is possible to achieve identical reaction conditions across multiple systems simultaneously, thus providing the necessary conditions to create homogenous products from all systems in the series. This is not possible in conventional systems, such as in the '121 publication. Because of these disadvantages, the system described in the '121 publication cannot scale to industrial production and is not useful outside of a laboratory setting.

As the oil 316 accumulates in the oil/water separator 310, it may be drained off into a collection vessel 314 through a collection valve 320. In an embodiment, the collection valve 320 may be a glass or plastic spigot.

Secondary Solvent Extraction

As in FIG. 5 , a further step in the process involves a secondary solvent extraction 400 for relevant cannabinoids. This process may utilize any number of hydrocarbon solvents having a polarity sufficient for cannabinoid extraction including, but not limited to, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, hexane, pentane, butane, propane, naphtha, chloroform. Supercritical CO2 may also be used for the solvent extraction.

While naphtha or petroleum ether extract may well be the most effective solvents for most cannabinoids, concerns about toxic solvent residues in products have caused practitioners to look for additional solutions. In embodiments, supercritical CO2 extraction is used to produce a crude extract containing the relevant cannabinoids from the dried, decarboxylated cannabis because it is an efficient, non-toxic and non-flammable process.

Extraction relies on the phenomenon of diffusion, in which the solvent diffuses into the solid plant matter and the target material diffuses from the plant matter into the solvent. Diffusion may occur at different rates with different solvents. For example, extraction with hydrocarbon solvents may require a period of hours.

Diffusion may occur faster when using supercritical fluids than with hydrocarbon solvents, allowing extraction to proceed more rapidly, taking an hour or less, depending on the type of product, the quantity and the equipment. While supercritical CO2 extraction provides certain advantages, it is also a much more costly process.

Thus, a sub-process for extracting cannabinoids from dried cannabis 400 may include steps of:

-   -   placing an amount of dried cannabis in an extraction chamber         402;     -   introducing an amount of solvent to the extraction chamber 404;     -   allowing the solvent to remain in contact with the dried         cannabis for a predetermined period of time 406;     -   purging the solvent from the extraction chamber after the         predetermined period of time has elapsed 408; and     -   retrieving accumulated extract from the collection vessel 410.

Supercritical CO2 Extraction

A supercritical fluid can diffuse through a solid as a gas does, and can also dissolve materials as a liquid does. In addition, close to the critical point, small changes in pressure and/or temperature lead to relatively large changes in density of the supercritical fluid, allowing many properties of a supercritical fluid to be adjusted or “tuned” to fit the application. For these reasons, supercritical fluids, such as supercritical CO2, can substitute for hydrocarbon solvents in many industrial and laboratory processes, such as cannabinoid extraction.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , shown is an exemplary system 500 for solvent extraction. The system 500 may include a solvent supply 502, typically in the form of a supply tank containing solvent or compressed CO2. A line may conduct the solvent from the supply 502 to a reservoir 504. The solvent then proceeds to a pump 506 which pumps the solvent to a heating zone 510, where it is heated to the lowest temperature conducive to dissolution of the cannabinoids in the solvent. Using the lowest effective temperature lessens the possibility of diminished yield due to thermal damage to the cannabinoids.

After passing through a heater coil 508, the heated solvent passes into an extraction vessel 512. In the extraction vessel 512, the solvent diffuses through the plant matter of the cannabis and dissolves the target material to be extracted—in this case, the cannabinoids. The dissolved cannabinoids and lipids are cleared from the extraction vessel 512 into a collection vessel 514 by means of a metering valve.

The product resulting from the solvent extraction is a crude cannabis extract containing a high concentration of cannabinoids, with some side products, such as lipids and pigments from the cannabis.

Subsequent refinement steps may be a function of the extraction method utilized. Supercritical CO2 extractions may be followed by a winterizing step, described in detail, herein below, which leverages ethanol (ETOH) to separate pure cannabinoids and terpenes from other byproducts isolated during extraction. This process serves to pull out undesired material in advance of downstream processing.

A hydrocarbon solvent-based extraction, due to the polarity of the solvent, does not incorporate the plant waxes and fats found in a CO2 extract. Thus, an activated carbon filtration process may be used to remove undesirable compounds like chlorophyll and other pigments.

Winterization

As above, the product of the secondary extraction is a crude extract having a high concentration of cannabinoids. In addition to the cannabinoids, the extract may also contain residual terpenes that were not extracted during the initial process. The crude extract may also contain a number of undesirable components such as lipids, waxes, pigments, or other such plant material. An additional refinement process serves to greatly reduce the level of these undesirable components and prepare the crude extract for downstream processing.

Many of the impurities remaining in the extract may be longer-chain hydrocarbons having a relatively high melting point. Thus, a refining procedure to remove the long-chain impurities involves dissolving the crude extract in ethanol (ETOH), freezing the ETOH solution and filtering it to remove the precipitated long-chain impurities. Additionally, treating the crude extract with ETOH, freezing and filtering have the added benefit of removing more of the residual terpenes and further concentrating the cannabinoid fraction.

The initial step in the winterization process 600 involves re-dissolving the crude extract in ETOH 602. In embodiments, the ETOH may be at room temperature. In embodiments, to facilitate dissolving the crude oil in the ETOH, the ETOH may be heated to a temperature slightly above room temperature (RT), for example 30° C. While a lower temperature helps to ensure a higher cannabinoid concentration in the final product, in certain applications, it may be desirable to heat the ETOH considerably above RT, for example, as high as 45° C.

In embodiments, the crude oil and the ETOH may be combined in a predetermined ratio, for example 10 ml of ETOH for each gram of extract. Choice of the ratio of oil to ETOH is driven by a number of factors, such as lipid and cannabinoid concentration of the starting material.

After the ETOH and the crude oil are combined, the mixture may be stirred, either manually, using a laboratory implement such as a spatula, or by using an automated stirring device, such as a magnetic stirrer. After the crude oil is fully dissolved in the ETOH, the solution is held at an approximate temperature of −20° C. for a period of approximately 24 hours 602. The solution is then passed through a filter having a 25-micron pore size to remove precipitated solids.

The solution may again be chilled to −20° C., and held for 24 hours 604. It will be appreciated that freezing the solution for an extended period results in a liquid layer—the extract/ethanol solution and a layer of precipitated solids. Found within the precipitated solids are the plant matter and solidified lipid impurities that are to be eliminated from the solution. Following the 24-hour freeze, the solution is passed through a 25-micron filter.

The solution may again be refrozen to −20° C. and held for 24 hours 606, after which it may be passed through a 2.5 micron filter.

The solution may again be refrozen to −20° C. and held for 24 hours 608, after which it may be passed through a 0.2 micron membrane filter.

It will be appreciated that the duration of the freezing periods may be reduced by subjecting the solution to lower temperatures. For example, if the solution is frozen using, for example, dry ice, the freezing time may be reduced. The freezing point of the solvent and/or the solute, would, of course, impose a lower limit on the freezing temperature.

Even after being thoroughly treated in this manner, there may remain enough chlorophyll in the solution to give it a green hue. In embodiments, the solution may, for example, be treated by exposing to sunlight or UV radiation, washing with an appropriate solvent or by an activated carbon filtration. Removing the chlorophyll, however, may adversely affect cannabinoid concentration in the final product 608.

The waxes removed from the oil as a result of winterization may be discarded, however they may also be recovered and diverted into other processes/products, skin care additives or personal lubricants, for example.

Terpenes removed as a result of winterization may be recovered and recombined with the terpenes produced as a result of the primary extraction for use in other products, or for recombining with the cannabinoids at predetermined levels to produce an extract having a targeted therapeutic profile 610.

After the waxes, pigments and plant material are removed during the winterization process, the ETOH may be purged from the solution 610, leaving a winterized extract. In embodiments, using a vacuum and a vacuum oven, the boiling point of the ETOH can be reduced to well below room temperature. In embodiments, the ETOH may be purged using a rotary evaporator.

Wiped-Film Distillation

The final stage of the disclosed method utilizes a wiped-film distillation technique to purify the winterized material into a distillate containing highly concentrated cannabinoids in ratios similar to those found in the original plant material. Purity is typically greater than 98% total cannabinoids and may be as high as 99.8% pure cannabinoids.

The winterized extract typically has a thick, syrupy consistency. Additionally, because of the high cannabinoid content, the extract is very heat-sensitive. Thus, it is desirable, at all stages of processing to minimize exposure of the extract to higher temperature. A conventional still-pot distillation provides a number of disadvantages for a heat-sensitive product such as the presently-described extract. Chief among these is the long residence time necessitated by the conventional pot distillation. As we have indicated, the extended thermal exposure in a batch process system degrades the quality of the extract. In particular, exposure of the cannabinoids in the extract to the extended heat in a conventional pot distillation system causes a significant drop in the cannabinoid concentration of the final product.

Another disadvantage of a conventional pot distillation system is that a large volume of product is lost due to the extract fouling the equipment as a result of its sticky, viscous consistency. As a matter of fact, the cannabis extract can foul the equipment so badly that it has to be discarded frequently.

Another disadvantage of a conventional pot distillation approach is the very slow rate of processing. The speed with which a quantity of extract can be distilled using a wiped-film approach produces a distinct business advantage for commercial producers.

Finally, as indicated above, the wiped-film approach allows the production of an extract of exceptional purity and potency.

In embodiments, this final distillation may utilize a wiped-film evaporator and vacuum distillation. In embodiments, this final distillation may utilize a short-path wiped-film evaporator having a condenser that is located inside the evaporator body.

A wiped film evaporator can provide the short residence time needed and an open, low pressure drop configuration, allowing continuous, reliable processing of heat sensitive, viscous, or fouling materials such as cannabis extract, without product degradation.

In a wiped-film evaporator (WFE), the product is fed into the top of a cylinder and evenly dispersed by a distributor. Heat is applied to the exterior surface of the cylinder, for example by a heated jacket. As the liquid film runs down the inside surface of the cylinder, a rotating wiper system spreads, agitates and moves the product down and off of the heated cylinder wall in a matter of seconds. Heat transfer under vacuum conditions causes the product to evaporate at a greatly reduced temperature. Evaporated product is allowed to pass through a liquid-vapor separator, while droplets of unevaporated product are thrown back to the heated surface. The vapor condenses on a condenser enclosed within the cylinder and exits the WFE through a distillate outlet.

In embodiments, condensation may take place in a condenser located outside of the evaporator.

The wiped-film distillation may be carried out using any of a number of commercially-available wiped-film, short-path stills. For example, in an embodiment, the wiped-film distillation may be carried out using a still such as the Pope Wiped-Film Molecular Still, manufactured by POPE SCIENTFIC, Inc., Saukville, WI.

In embodiments, the wiped-film distillation may be carried out using a still such as a Thin-Film, Short-Path Evaporator manufactured by LCI, Inc. Charlotte, NC.

In embodiments, the wiped-film distillation may be carried using a still such as a Short-Path Distillation Plant manufactured by ROOT SCIENCES, Inc., Seattle, WA.

Any of the foregoing systems are vacuum distillation systems that embody the use of a wiped-film (aka “thin-film”) evaporator having an incorporated condenser, which greatly reduces the amount of time the product is exposed to heat to no more than a few seconds. The provision of a short path between the evaporator and the condenser allows the pressure within the system to be kept at a level that approximates the vapor pressure of the cannabinoid fraction, allowing the cannabinoid fraction to evaporate rapidly with minimal application of heat, thereby preserving the cannabinoids.

While several commercially available systems have been described herein above, one of ordinary skill will readily realize that a system for wiped-film distillation system embodying the same operative principles as the named systems may be obtained from other sources or it may be constructed from readily available components, either of which embodiments are entirely consistent with the scope of the present disclosure and the attached claims.

FIG. 8 provides a block diagram of a sub-process for distilling a cannabis extract. As described herein above, the sub-process 700 may include at least the steps of:

-   -   introducing liquid extract into a wiped-film evaporator (WFE)         under vacuum conditions 702;     -   dispersing the liquid extract on the heated interior surface of         the WFE by means of a wiper system 704;     -   separating extract evaporated by a combination of vacuum         conditions and heat transfer from liquid extract 706;     -   condensing evaporated extract 708; and     -   collecting distillate 710.

The methods for preparing concentrated extracts of cannabis may be deployed at any scale. Small producers may utilize them to produce milliliter amounts of product. Furthermore, the process may be scaled and used by commercial producers to produce bulk quantities.

It will be appreciated that many products may result from the methods and approaches herein described. One product is a highly-purified, terpene-rich cannabis essential oil. A second product is a cannabis extract having a cannabinoid concentration that may exceed 99%. Many additional products may result from recombining the essential oil and cannabinoids in various proportions to produce extracts having a variety of medicinal effects. Furthermore, as a result of the ability to fine-tune the extraction sub-process by varying temperature and pressure, the extraction procedure may be modified to favor one cannabinoid fraction over another. Thus, the relative concentration of different cannabinoid fractions can be varied in the final extract.

Additionally, the by-products of the winterization process may themselves be diverted into other products, for example personal lubricants and skin-care products.

Moreover, the hydrosol resulting from the initial distillation may itself serve as the basis for additional products.

While the above methods have been described in connection with production of cannabis extract, the same methods may be deployed to isolate and purify components of all sorts of culinary, aromatic and medicinal herbs such as lavender, sage and rosemary.

While the foregoing written description enables one of ordinary skill to use the methods herein described, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiments, methods, and examples herein. The specification should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the attached claims. 

1. A method for drying and decarboxylating raw cannabis, comprising: providing a plurality of decarboxylation systems, each system comprising; a vessel having a gravity drain; placing raw cannabis in each of the vessels; applying microwave energy to the cannabis under at least a partial vacuum for a time period and at a power level sufficient to substantially dry and decarboxylate the cannabis; as each vessel is heated, continuously applying torque to the vessel to maintain rotation of the vessel; continuously draining accumulated liquid and vapor under vacuum from each distillation vessel into a condenser under at least partial vacuum; draining a resulting distillate from the condenser into an oil/water separator capable of maintaining the at least partial vacuum; and draining at least a portion of the content of the oil/water separator into a single collection vessel common to said plurality of distillation systems.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein raw cannabis comprises fresh plant material that has not had an opportunity to dry.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of: shredding and/or chopping the raw cannabis; soaking the raw cannabis in water; freezing the raw cannabis; packing the raw cannabis into the distillation vessel.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying microwave energy to the cannabis comprises one or both of: heating the cannabis in the microwave oven for a period of 60 minutes; heating the cannabis in a 1000-watt microwave oven at ‘high’ power. 